German development partners back Indian football

The German Football Association (DFB) has been involved in worldwide development of football since 1962 with the German Olympic Committee (NOK) and the Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ), a government international development agency. The partnership sends football experts around the globe and one of them, Thorsten Spittler, is currently in India to conduct a four-week program for Goan coaches at Duler (Mapusa) from 14 November.

Goa Football Association secretary, Savio Messias, said Spittler's program is approved by the All India Football Federation and the Goa Football Association and funded by the German Ministry for Foreign Affairs. He will teach the coaching theory, techniques, tactics, practical coaching of grassroot and youth teams, psychology of coaching, common injuries in football and their treatment and theory and practice of goalkeeping.

Spittler has previously run courses in India in Patiala (Punjab), Kolkata (West Bengal) and Bangalore (Karnataka) and DFB has been active in development work in Kazakhstan, Uzbekstan, Rwanda, China, Thailand, Gustenala, Lebanon and Togo.